Cairn has announced five senior leadership appointments to support the company’s continued growth and long-term ambitions. The appointments span finance, communications, legal, procurement & commercial, and digital transformation, reflecting Cairn’s investment in leadership capability. They are being made during a period of significant momentum for the business, with Cairn’s housing output increasing by 60% year-on-year in the first half of 2026.
The appointments include Elaine O’Brien as Director of Finance & Treasury, Olivia Buckley as Director of Communications, Zoe Ennis as Head of Legal, Sean Gavin as Director of Commercial & Procurement, and Hazel McGuinness as Director of IT & Digital Transformation.
Elaine O’Brien has built an international career in commercial finance, with senior finance and commercial leadership roles across listed and multinational businesses, including Grafton Group and L’Oréal. Olivia Buckley joins Cairn with a strong track record in strategic communications and reputation management, having held senior roles with Aer Lingus, Banking & Payments Federation Ireland, and the Irish Tax Institute.
Zoe Ennis has advised complex organisations on legal and commercial matters across both private practice and in-house leadership roles, including Arthur Cox and Amazon Web Services. Sean Gavin has spent more than two decades leading commercial and operational teams in residential development, with senior leadership roles at Berkeley Group in the UK and London Square.
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Hazel McGuinness has led digital and business transformation programmes across multiple industries, including roles with Org Group (Abtran), AbbVie, and Lakeland Dairies, specialising in digital innovation, data strategy, and enterprise change. These appointments demonstrate Cairn’s commitment to investing in leadership capability to support its growing business.
As the company continues to grow, attracting exceptional people is one of the most important investments it can make. The diversity of experience and perspectives the new appointees bring will make Cairn a stronger organisation.
Cairn Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer Madeleina Loughrey Grant announced the appointments, saying, “As Cairn continues to grow, attracting exceptional people is one of the most important investments we can make. I’m delighted to welcome Elaine, Olivia, Zoe, Sean, and Hazel to the team. Each brings outstanding perspectives and leadership experience that will complement the strong talent we already have across the business.”
The new senior members will work alongside colleagues across the business as Cairn continues learning, evolving, and building for the future.
